Making a 4-Point Frog Spear

Kevin Estela

Store-Bought vs Handmade Spearheads can be purchased and used with a makeshift handle or you can craft your own four-pronged critter getter.

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Pickerel Frog

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Photo by Kirk Wahl/ livingafield.com

Frog Spearing TechniqueFrog spearing works best when the animal can be pinned to the ground and retrieved by hand. Rather than just piercing the skin, the multi-pronged spear fits around the body and limbs.

Unlike fish, which are caught using hooks or nets, catching a frog often requires the use of a frog spear. Frog spearing works best when the animal can be pinned to the ground and retrieved by hand. Make your own 4-pronged frog spear by following these 9 simple steps:

Step 1: Choose a green hardwood sapling no thicker than your thumb and about 5-7 feet in length. Limb the sapling with the exception
of a single fork near the top.

Step 2: Remove the bark toward the bottom end of the sapling. Leave some bark near the top to provide a secure textured grip.

Step 3: Carefully whip the sapling with synthetic or natural cordage approximately 9 inches from the bottom. This will prevent the four prongs from splitting too far down the shaft.

Step 4: Split the spearhead in half down the length of the head using a knife and baton. Be careful to tap the blade through the center pith of the wood to just in front of the whipping.

Step 5: Rotate the spearhead 90 degrees and split it down the length of the head again.

Step 6: Hold the four prongs together as a whole and sharpen them as one single point with your knife.

Step 7: Carefully insert green twigs down the splits in both directions to keep your spearhead open. You can tie these twigs in place.

Step 8: Barbs can be made expediently by notching the inside of the spearhead in the direction of the point.

Step 9: Get to spearing! This is a pinning spear. Approach the frog head on. Use the forked end to grip the spear for a stronger thrust. Pin the frog to the ground. Grab it with your hands around its waist.

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